In a recent development, the Bombay High Court has dismissed multiple petitions contesting the Maharashtra government's move to rename Aurangabad district as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv. The decision came from a division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, stating that the government's notification does not justify any intervention.

"The notification issued by the state government to rename Aurangabad and Osmanabad is deemed legal and devoid of any flaws," affirmed the bench.

The petitions lacked merit and were consequently dismissed by the High Court. The Maharashtra cabinet, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, approved the renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv in 2022.

The process began with a Government Resolution passed by the two-member cabinet on July 16, 2022, which was then forwarded to the central government. Subsequently, in February 2023, the Union Home Ministry provided a no objection letter for the name changes. Following this, a gazette notification was issued by the state government officially renaming Aurangabad and Osmanabad.

Numerous petitions were filed by residents of Aurangabad opposing the government's decision to rename their city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Similarly, 17 residents of Osmanabad filed a PIL against renaming it to Dharashiv. Both petitions alleged political motivations behind the government's actions.

In response, the Maharashtra government defended its stance, asserting that the renaming was rooted in historical significance rather than political agenda.

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